When Judy Garland and Angela Lansbury ("Murder She Wrote") head out West, the fur flies and the fun begins. Here's a big, bustling musical extravaganza the way they used to make 'em, brimming with period charm. The Harvey
Girls also boasts a hummable score by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren, including "It's a Great Big World", "Oh, You Kid", and the Oscar-winning "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe."

At the turn of the Century, Fred Harvey's hotels and restaurants were the epitome of American elegance. When winsome Susan Bradley (Garland) discovers that the chain needs waitresses for their new place along the tracks of the Santa Fe railroad, she
eagerly answers the call of "Go West, Young Woman!"

The sparkling supporting cast features Ray Bolger (The Wizard of Oz), Cyd Charisse, Chill Wills, Marjorie Main (Ma and Pa Kettle) and Preston Foster. Directed by George Sidney (Show Boat), The Harvey Girls serves up a
sprightly, rollicking banquet with the talented Judy Garland at her singing, dancing, romancing best!

The Harvey Girls was originally planned as a drama starring Lana Turner. When the project's producer Bernard Hyman passed away MGM attempted to sell the property. The Harvey family, however, let it be known that they
would not allow anyone but MGM to make the film, so the property was assigned to the Freed unit where it was seen as a perfect vehicle to use as an answer to the new Broadway sensation, Oklahoma!.

"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" was awarded Best Song Academy Award for 1946. The number was also recorded by Johnny Mercer, and was a chart-topper on the hit parade.

Highlights of the film include Susan's rescue of the kidnapped Harvey House steaks (classic Garland comedy), the lovely number "It's a Great Big World" (danced and sung in their nightgowns by Judy, Virginia O'Brien and Cyd
Charisse - dubbed by Betty Russell), Susan and Trent's meeting in the valley where she sits on his hat (more classic Garland comedy), Kenny Baker's "Wait and See" (danced by Cyd Charisse), and the beautifully staged "Round and Round", which includes a
beautifully staged and costumed ballroom dance scene and a comedy dance routine by Ray Bolger and Marjorie Main. The picture is pure war-years escapism, with a mixture of drama and comedy with musical interludes as enjoyable as any ever to hit the
screen.

"March of the Doagies" (nicknamed "Judy of Arc"), a beautiful production number, was cut from the movie only because the running time was too long. It can be seen in its entirety in That's Entertainment III and in the
Golden Years box set (see below).

The Harvey Girls is one of three tapes in the "Judy Garland Collection" videotape box set (above left) from MGM/UA Home Video (M602386), 1991. This tape bears the
number M202452.

The film and outtakes were released as part of the laser disc box set "Judy Garland: The Golden Years at MGM," MGM/UA Home Video ML104869 (1994).

Won Best Song Academy Award ("On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"), Harry Warren (Music),
Johnny Mercer (Lyrics); won Academy Award nomination for Best Score - Musical (Lennie Hayton)

Critical Response

"An abundance of chromatic spectacle and an uncommonly good score. Miss Garland of course is at the center of most of the activity and handles herself in pleasing fashion - up to and including the high notes. A rather lofty
tribute to Fred Harvey's girls, but it's a show."

- Bosley Crowther, The New York Times

"A great big animated picture postcard. Judy Garland is the film's bright...star. Miss Garland is effectively glamorized in get-ups of the '90's and sings her songs pleasantly. Hodiak gives her valuable dramatic support. The
Harvey Girls is a perfect demonstration of what Hollywood can do with its vast resources when it wants to be really showy...Pretty girls...period sets and costumes...lilting tunes...super-speedy dance shuffles.

- Howard Barnes, The New York Herald Tribune

Memorable Lines

Hartsey: "Are you disappointed?"Susan: "Disappointed?Hartsey: "Well, I mean you didn't expect a mangy old buzzard like me, or did ya?"Susan: "Oh, yes! I did!"

Susan: (to Ned Trent) "Now you listen to me. If anybody leaves here, it's going to be you! You and your kind - men who run gambling houses and send lying letters to girls and sell a lot of liquor to drunkards!"

Diner 1: (after Susan takes his soup) "Hey! What'd she do that for? I warn't finished!"Diner 2: "It's on account of your manners. In a place like this, you don't blow on your soup, ya fan it with yer hat!"

Man at Alhambra: (while Susan points a gun at him) "Watch out men! Be careful! I'd rather have Dead-Eyed Dick than a female with a gun in her hand!"

Susan: (to Ned) "Well, some girls are just a little harder to get than others!"